Author Archives: Patricia Smith

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a very nice wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson was making a banana sandwich for himself and Aunt Moss. “Bananas are such a happy fruit,” Aunt Moss said. “They’re always smiling.” She held up a banana, theContinue reading “Scowling Bananas”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, cosy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Aunt Moss was going to visit her friend, Rebekah, and she asked Benson if he would like to come along. “Rebekah’s grandson Ralph lives with her, you know, andContinue reading “The Violin”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson was invited to his friend Alejandro’s birthday party. He didn’t want to go. His mother said, “Why don’t you want to go? Alejandro is a good friend, andContinue reading “Benson Learns to Dance”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a lovely wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson’s Nanna had a fall and hurt her ankle. Benson’s mother, and Aunt Lillibet and Aunt Moss were very worried. “She obviously can’t look after herself,” Aunt Lillibet said. “SheContinue reading “People You Can’t Live With”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson’s cousin, Lance, came over. “I’m thinking of renovating one of my old burrows,” he said to Benson, “and I was wondering if you would like toContinue reading “Renovating”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson said to his mother, “I’m thinking of getting my own place.” “Oh,” said his mother. “Are you?” “I think I’m old enough to have a place ofContinue reading “A Place of Your Own”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, cosy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson’s mother was sorting out the washing. She held up Benson’s favourite orange jumper. There was a hole right in the middle of the front. “Look at this bigContinue reading “Moths”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a comfortable, roomy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson’s mother was racing around the kitchen trying do do six things at once. She was making anzac cookies and lemon syrup for Aunt Lillibet’s belly-dancing friends who wereContinue reading “Decorum”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. It was a beautiful day and Benson was playing outside with his friend, Philip. After a while he came in and said to his mother, “I need a pieceContinue reading “A Piece of String”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Aunt Lillibet decided she wanted to paint her cupboard. She measured it carefully so she would know exactly how much paint she would need. “Exactly one tin of paint,”Continue reading “A Tin of Paint”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a very nice wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. At Easter time everyone got chocolate Easter eggs, but Philip’s mother’s cousin sent him a chocolate fairy. The fairy had fine delicate wings, and a little chocolate dress thatContinue reading “The Chocolate Fairy”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a very nice wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Aunt Lillibet was cleaning out a cupboard and she found a pile of old maps. “These must be your Uncle Lionel’s maps,” she said. “What are they maps of?”Continue reading “Mapping”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson was playing with his snail shell collection and his mother was cleaning out the fridge where the quandong jam had spilled everywhere. Aunt Lillibet was out weedingContinue reading “The Lost Princess”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in an ordinary wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One afternoon after lunch, Benson was bored. He had a bit of a snuffly nose and a kind of a headache, and he didn’t feel like doing anything. He didn’tContinue reading “Fish Footprints and Earth Whales”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a clean, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson had a friend called Pete who wanted to be a pirate. He had a pirate shirt, with red and white stripes on it, and a pirate sword calledContinue reading “Pete the Pirate”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a roomy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. It was a beautiful day to be outside and Benson’s mother invited all the other mothers over to have a cup of tea and they brought all their children toContinue reading “Statues”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Aunt Lillibet’s friend Shelley was teaching her how to weave. The first thing Aunt Lillibet made that didn’t fall apart was a tea-towel. She was very proud of it.Continue reading “Tea-Towels”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a very nice wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson and his mother went to visit his Nanna and take her some pumpkin muffins that Benson had made. They had a great time, playing hide andContinue reading “Wild Dogs”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning while Benson was making himself a banana sandwich, his mother came into the kitchen and wrinkled up her nose. “What’s that smell?” she said. “Kind of dampContinue reading “The Black Stinker”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson’s Uncle Elton came over for afternoon tea. Uncle Elton really enjoyed making things. He made all sorts of things out of wood and things he found,Continue reading “Uncle Elton’s Music Holder”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Near where Benson lived there was a creek, and on the other side of the creek, at the top of the hill, there was a fence. Sometimes when BensonContinue reading “The Fence”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson went over to his friend Mick’s place to play. Mick’s little sister, Bonnie Lou, wanted to play too, but Mick said she was too little. “Go and play withContinue reading “Baking Clay”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson and his mother went to visit an old friend who lived a long way away, near a big lake. They went in a train, but that’s a storyContinue reading “Benson at the Lake”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in an interesting wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Aunt Lillibet had a sniffly nose. She was sitting by herself with a scarf around her head, gloves on her hands, thick warm boots and a thick winter coat on,Continue reading “Ginger Toes”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One week it rained for days and days. On Thursday, Benson and his mother went to his friend Mick’s place. Alejandro was there already, and Mick’s little sister Bonnie Lou.Continue reading “Goldilocks and the Three Koalas”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a nice wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One afternoon Benson was playing outside. He dug a hole in the ground in the shape of a boat and he made a flag out of a stick and aContinue reading “Wasp”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a very nice wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson was making a sandwich – spinach and parsnip – when Aunt Moss came out of her room, limping. “Did you hurt your leg, Aunt Moss?” askedContinue reading “Playing Possum”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson got out of bed and had a big yawn and a big stretch and one of the buttons on his pyjamas popped off. He went out toContinue reading “How to Sew on a Button”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a roomy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One night there was a big storm with thunder and lightning. Benson was reading in bed when the lights went out. He got out of bed and got his torchContinue reading “Shadow Puppets”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in an ordinary wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson was reading a book about science. He asked his mother, “What does infinity mean?” Aunt Lillibet said, “I know what infinity is. My mother’s auntie used to have aContinue reading “Infinity”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day it was so sunny and warm that everyone decided to have a picnic. They went to a big clearing with lots of shady trees for the mothers toContinue reading “The Eagle”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a nice, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One evening while they were eating dinner, Aunt Lillibet was looking around the room in a thoughtful kind of way. “You know,” she said, “I think this room wouldContinue reading “Colours”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One evening at bedtime, Benson said to his mother, “Can you tell me a story?” “I’d love to,” said his mother. She tucked Benson up into bed and started. “OnceContinue reading “Storytelling”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a warm, comfortable wombat hole in the ground with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. It was a beautiful warm, sunny day and Benson and his mother went to the playground. His friend Zali was there, sitting in the sandpit, andContinue reading “Mick and Zali”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a warm, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson spent the morning making a skipping rope and practising his skipping. It was very tiring work, and after a while he came in and made himselfContinue reading “Giraffes and Geraniums”